Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
11~17~)8
B~CKGROUND OF Tll~ INVENrION
_ _
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dip tube and valve with a
quick-disconnect coupling ror use in combination ~ith a collapsible
sealed container to dispense a liquid yroduct therefrom.
Description of tlle Prior Art
~Zany exemplary dip tubes are available in the prior art ~hieh
permit the extraction of a product from a container. The most
eonventional dip tube is an elongated cylindrical tube w;lich in-
cludes an upper por~ion connected to a valve and an open lower
portion positioned within the product to be extracted from the
container. For example, Daniels, U.S. 3 171,571, discloses a
conventional bag-in-box t~pe of dispensing package including
l a dip tube 13.
1 Another e~ample of a dip tube positioned within a flexible
bag is disclosed by Kramer et al U.S. 2,859,899. The dip tube
includes perforations 38 through whic}l syrup or other material
positioned wit]lin the flexible bag is sucked therefrom by means
of a pump.
U.S. patent 2,133,411 to Zohe discloses a baby nursing
bottle includi]-lg a rigid member 12 wllich precludes tlle bendillg of
the flexible ba~ 4 thus preventing the sealing off o the al~erture
at the top end of the bottle througll which the milk is sucked.
l It is conventioJlal in the pressurized container industry to
position a dip tube witllin an aeroso] container for dispensing
¦the product tlleretlll-ollgll. A number of-exc]llplar)~ di~- tube~ are
illustrated in the prior art W]lic]l are used ~ithin pressurized
containers. For example Roth et al U.S. 3 245 582; ~icallef
' -1 -
11~17{~8
U.S. 3,257,036; VenuS, U.S. 3,791,~57; Stewart, U.S. 3,388,832;
¦¦~Iarris et al, U.S. 4,062,475; and Petterson, U.S. 4,087,026 all
disclose'dip tubes'positioned wit}lin an aerosol container. These
conventional dip tubes are desi~ned to dispense a product by
means of a pressurized source which pushes the product through
the dip tube.
SIJ~I~lARY O~ Tl-IE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention
to provide a dip tube whic]l includes one or more chanJIels in the
periphery thereof, extending along substantially the entire len~th
of the dip tube, for use in combination with a collapsible, sealed
container to dispense a liquid product therefrom.
It is anot]ler objeet of the present invention to provide
a dip tube wIlich may be inexpensively extrudc?d at a cost substan-
tially less than ~nown techniques.
! A further object of the present invention is to provide a
dip tube which ~ermits a flexible ba~ to collapse thereon while
still enabling a product to be dispeIlsed therefrom.
ll l'he objects of t]-e preseIlt inve}ltion are fullfilled by
2~ I providing an elongated dip tube ~hic]l includes at least 031C
¦ channel in the periphery thereof whic]l extends along the entire
length of the dip tube. The tube is positioned witIlin a collapsib e
bag and a vacuum or suction is aI)plie~ at the l;pl)c?r C?lld thereo.
]nitially, ail .~ithiIl the co]lapsil)le bag will be draI~ll tlIerefroln.
ISubsequeJltly, the liqIlid pJoduct disposed witlIin tIIe collapsible
bag will floI~ through .he c)iaIlllel in the diI) tuI)e aIlcl tIIC
¦Icollapsible bag ~ill eollapse around the outer circumlerence Or
the dip tube. ]'rogressively, as the li(Iuicl product is remove~
~rom the collapsible ba~, the bag wilI continuc? to collapse OJl tIIe
!l I
11417V8
outer circumference of tlle dip tube until all of the liquid pro-
duct is dispensed therefrom.
A major advantage of the dip tube of the present invention
is that it will allo~Y the dip tube to be emptied regardless of the
bag's orientation, namely, with the bag spout on the top bottom
or side o~ the bag.
~ urther scope of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
]lowever, it should be understGod that the detailed description
of the invention and the specific examples while indicating pre-
ferred embodimeTIts of the invention are given by way of illustra-
tion only, since various changes and mocdifications within the spiri~
of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in ~he art
from this cletailed description.
131~]~F ~S(.R]I'I]ON OF 11~ ])RA~lNGS
lhe present invention will become more fully understond from
the detailed description givell hereinbelow and the accom])anying
drawings whicll are given by way of illustration only and thus
are not limitative of the present irivention arlcl wllerein:
~ igure 1 is a pa]tial cross-sectional view of a collapsible
bag including a bag fitment to which the dip t~be of the present
invention is attached:
]:igul-e 2 is a persepctive vie-.~ of a filst c~nbodimellt of the
c]ip tube accoldirlg to the plesent invent-ion;
~ igure 3 is a persel-ctive view of a seconc3 eml)o(lilTIent o~ the
dip tube accorcling the the preserlt invention;
11~17118
~ Figure 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the
¦dip tube according to the present invention;
Figure 5 is an end view of another embodiment of a dip tube
according to the present invention;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the dip tube according to
the present invcntion including a washer for attaclli]lg the dip
tube to a collapsible sealed container.
Figure 7 is an e~ploded view of an alternative embodiment of
an assembly for retaining the dip tube of the present invention
within the spout of a container;
Figure 8 is a side elevational view of an alternative em-
bodiMent of the bag coupling mcmber of Figure l;
Figures 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views of one cmbodiinent
of a valve member which may be used in the bag couplings of
Figures 1 or 8 Figure 9 illustrating the valve in a closed
position and Figure lO illustrating the valve in an open positjon;
~ igure 9A is a top plan vie- o~ the embodiments of Figures
9 and lU;
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating anothcr
embodiment o~ a valve member suitable for use in connection with
the presellt invelltion;
Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of still another embod-
iment of the bag coupling of the present invention illustrating
thc valve of Figures 9 and 10 therein; and
Figurc l~ is a cross-scctiona] view of ~ct anotl)cr embodi-
j¦mcnt of tl~e pl'CsCnt invention illustratillg a dip tube rctaincd
¦ in the valvc bod).
11 .
7~ ~
DETAILED DESCRI]'lION OF THE INVENTlON
_
The present invention is directed to a dip tube for use in
combination with a collapsible sealed container to disl~ense a
liquid ~roduct therefrom. The dip tube of the present invention
~may be used in combination with a Post-mix beverage system. Such
a Post-mix beverage system is disclosed in u.S. Patent
4,104,461, issued March 29, 1977 to Harvill and assigned to
the same assignee as the present invention.
As illustrated in Figure l? a dip tube 10 ma~ include a
10 deformed end 12 for attachment to a bag fitment 14. I~owever the
dip tube 10 according to the present invention may be attached to
a collapsible sealed container 16 b~ mcans of a variety of dif-
ferent attachment members. For example, as illustrated in Figure
6, a washer l9 may be positioned on the dip tube 10 for attachment
15 to the bag fitment 14. The washer l9 includcs an inwardly pro-
¦jectin~ lip 19A which permits sliding movemcnt of thc washer l~on the dip tube 1~ in one direction only. There~ore aftcr the
was]ler 19 is correctly positioned on the dip tube 10 and the dip
tubc is insel-ted into the collapsible sealed containcr 16 to abut
20 against the bag fitment 14, the dip .tube 10 will be properly
i positioncd wit]lin thc collapsibleJsealed container 16.
¦ The bag fitment 14 in one embodiment includes a substanti~lly
¦l~orizontal wall portion 13 to which the deformed end 12 or tl~e
¦was~cr l9 is securcl~ af~i~c(l to l~rcvent latera] Inovcment o~ the
2c dil~ tul)e ]n Wit]lil tl~c col]apsil)]c scllcd containcr l~.
Tllc ba~ fitmcnt 14 inclu~es an up~;ardly projectillg circular
wall 15 ad~pted to be cnga~cd by a valvc attacilmcnt mcm~er 17. As
1 ustrate~ in ri~ure 1, ~1~ upwardly l~rojcctin~ circular l~all 15
~417~
ma~- include serrations 15A, ~hich are engaged by corresponding
serrations 17A on the couplin~ 17, to lcc] the t~o me?mbers rela-
tive to each other.
In one contemplated use of the present invention the clip
tube 10 may be disposeci ~!ithin a collapsihle, sealecl container
1D positioned ~ithin a bo~ 18. Tllis arrange~.ent is com~only
referred to as a bag-in-boY.. ~s a vacuum or suction is supplied
to the dip tube 10 through the valve me~.?er by means of a pump,
initially al~ of the air within the collaps~ble, sealed container
16 is discharged therefrom. ~ubsequently, the liquid product
contained in the sealed container 16 will begin to flo~ upwardly
through the dip tube 10 to be discharged there~rom and supplied
to a discharge spout, not illustrated in the drawings. As the
liquid product is discharged from the collapsible, sealed .con-
; tainer 16, the container will collapse onto the dip tube becauseo the suction a?plied by the pump. Nor~ally, the collapsing
o the collapsible, sealed eontainer in this manner usually clogs
the dip tube opening of a conventiona.l, prior art dip tube ancl
prohibits further dispensing of the product disposed ~ithin the
collapsible, sealed container.
The dip tu~e 10, according to the present invention, over-
co~.es the disadvantages of the prior art by providiny at least
one channel in the peripheral surface thereof e~tenc?ing along
substantially the entire length of the dip tube. Therefore, as
the liquid product is clisperlsed out of the collapsible, sealed
container 1~, the containcr collapses arou?nd a portic)n of the clip
tube 10, ~;hich is no longer surrounded by the lic~uicl product
leavi.ng the rcmai.lli?lg pcrt.~on ~ t~e ~ha?.nel open to permit the
cc~mplete clispensi.ng of all the liquid product contained ~ithin
the collapsi)-le sealecl container 16.
--6--
7~8
Fi~ures 1 and 2 illustrate a preferred embodiment of tlle dil)
tube according to the present invention. ~he dip tube lO includes
three channels lOCl - lOC3 l~hich provide passa~eways for the liquic
product positioned l~ithin the collapsible sealed container to be
suc~ed therefrom. rhe frame lOF includes three arms connected at
one end thereof and projecting outwardly from the connection. The
other end of each of tl~e arms is connected to s~irt members lOAl -
lOA3 l~hich are spaced relative to each other to form chaTInels lOC
lOC3 therebetween. ~he distance between the s~irt members whicll
form the c~lannels may be increased or decreased depending upon the
fluid viscosity and the flexibility of the collapsible sealed
container used in combination l~ith the dip tube.
Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of the dip tube accor~
ing to the present invention. The dip tube 20 includes a eha]lnel
20Cl in the peripheral suIface thereof extendin~ alon~ substantial Y
tlle entire lengt~l of the dip tube. In addition, a deformed end
22 may be positiolled at one end tllereof to facilitate t}~e attacl--
ment of the dip tube to the horizontal ~all member 13 of the bag
fitment 14 in the same manner as illustrated in ligure 1. llo-~-
ever, as previously discussed other means of attachi3lg the dip
tube 20 to the bag fitment 14 are contenlplaLed l~it]lin the scope
of the present invcntioll. Ihe dip tube 20 operates in tl~c same
n!anner as the dil) tube 10 described ahove.
Fi~ure 4 illustrates another embodinlent of the dip tube accor(
25 . ing to the present invention. lhe dip tube 30 includes tl~O channe s
30~1 30C2 Ihic]l are positio3led in the peripllcral surface t]~ereo3
and extend alollg substantially the entire ]engtll of t]~e dip tu~e.
A fraDIe 30F CC~ eCtS ~hc .-rt r~DIIlc~s ~n~l, 30A2 totct1~er to rOrm
11417~8
the channels 30Cl, 30Cz thertbetween. In addition, a deformed end
32 may be positioned at one end thereof to facilitate the a tach-
ment of the dip tube to the hori~orltal member 13 of the bag fi~men
member 14 in tlle same manner as illustrated in Fi~ure 1. Again,
¦other means of attaching the dip tube 30 to the bag fitment 14
may be utilized without departing from the spirit and intent of
the present invention.
Fi~ure 5 illustrates an end view of yet anotller embodiment
according to the present invention. lhe dip tube 40 is shaped in
tlle form of a square and includes skirt members 40Al - 40A4 con-
nected toget]~er by means of a frame 40F. ~he skirt members 40Al -
40A4 are spacec] relative to each other to form channels 40Cl - 40C~
iJI the periplleral surface of the di~ tube 40 I~]liC}I extend sub-
stantially alon~ the entire lengt]l of the dip tube. As discussed
hereinabove, a suitable attachment member will be provided adjacen
to one end of the dip tube for attacllment to the bag fitment 14.
lhe various embodiments of t]le dip tube accorc]ing to t]~e
presellt invcntion may be extruded, molded or manufacturec] in any
manner suital>le to obtain a clip tube with one or more cllallnels
extendin~ subst~lltially along t]le entile lengt]l thertof. ln
addition any suitable material for examl)le, plastic metal or ~~
otller materials may be utilized in constructing ~hc (lip tube _
according to the plesent invention. Furt]~er tlle dip tube accord-
ing to tlle prescnt inventioll may be constructed in a variety of
sl~apes and is not limited to a circular or s(~uare dip tube as
ustrattcl in ]igures 1-~ Ihe nulllber o~ chanoe]s in tlle peril-he~ a~
surface of tl~e dip tube accorcling to ~lle prescnt invention is not
~imited to al~y pcll tiCU~ !UIIIbCi . 'I'hc c l~.innt'~ ~ CO~IlCl I~C ten or
more if desirec].
7~ 8
Figures 7 to 13 illustrate various embodiments of a bag ~I ~
coupling member 50, valve assemblies retained within bag coupling
member 50, ?nd alternative means for retaining tlle dip tube lO
either within the bag couyling 50 or the bag fitment.
l~eferring in detail to Figure 7, there is illustrated what
shall be referred to heleinalter as a bag coul)ling 50, which per-
forms essentially the same function as the bag coupling 17 of
Figure l. That is, the bag coupling 50 houses a valve assembly
and provides at its respective ends a quick-disconnect coupling
between a bag fitment 54 and the hose coupling of a dispensing
hose, to be discussed hereinafter.
As illustrated in Figure 7 bag coupling 50 is open at both
ends thereof, to permit tlle flow of fluid therethrough, and
includes screw threads 50A about the peripllery of the outer wall
adjacent the top end of the coupling for receiving a screw-on
hose coupling a slloulder 50B for engaging the bottom edge of tl)e
hose coupliJIg a lower enlarged portion 5()C wllich fits into a
socket 54A of a bag fitment 54 and an annular sealillg ring
or rings SOD, which are sized for a force-fit witllin soc~et 54~.
l~ag ritment 54 includes an annular flange 54i~ whicll is heat
¦sealed or secured by other suitable means to a coll~l)sible bag
generally indicated 16. ~isposed witllin the bottom lortion of
socket 54A of fitment 54 is a spider 56. Spider 56 in a pl:eferl-ed
embodiment, is mo]ded as an integral part of tlle fitment 54.
I~'ithin the l)ottom portion of the socket 54A the spi(ler 5~ in-
cludes a CCntl';lll)' located, annular ring 5~A ~hicl- ~el~ines a hole
or openirlg throu~l~ W~liC]l a dip tul)e In is inserted into the con-
tainer and a pluralit)~ ol ladial SpO~CS 5~ le ceilter hole of
~L~417~3
11 ,
tlle spider definecl b)~ annulilr ring 5fiA is lar~e enougll to allo~
,dip tul)e ln to be easily insertecl yet tlle lar~c? clip tube retainer
~asl~er 52 (or defol-lnecl clip tubc end) does not let the dip tube
,filll tl~rou~l~ the Ope!li]lg into thc bag The eentrill hole in s~ider
11 56 iS sizecl so t}~at thc dip tube ean also c~asily pivot as recluired
¦lt ean bc obseTved ~itl~ re~erenee to Fi~llre 7 that onee the bag
, cou~ n~ 5n eontainin~ the valve is instrted into soe~et 54 of the
ilbag ~itment, the dip tube 10 and retainer 52 are eaptivated or
llsandwicl~ed bet~een the ba~ eouplin~ and the spider 56. lhe s~aee
Ibetween the raclial spo~es 56~ of ~picler 56 permits the eontainer
lor eollapsible bag, to he fille~ .~ith liquid before the dip tube
is inscrted without impairing or restrietinb tl~e flo~ of fluid.
I¦lhe spider is loeated at the bottom of the annulal- soe~et 54A of
i fitment 54 so th2t there is room ~OI tlle eoupling of a fillin~
maehine to seal on soe~ct 5~ itl-out touehing tlle spider. lhus
the spider 56 Tll~)' be maint;~illed in a ~ubstanti;~lly sterile eondi-
¦tion. lhe use of tlle spic]er 5G climinates th~ neccl for all CXtl'a
¦part or e]ement for supportin~ the dip tube 1() in tlle bag fitlllent
54.
Fi~ure 8 illustrates anot~er ~orm ol .I bag eouplin~ 50 in
~ITl insertetd sealed eon(litioll ~itl~in bar, fitment 54 Or tl~e eo~lall-
sible ba~ 16. In tllis eml)o(lilnellt ba~ eouplin~ 50 has sulstantial-
ly tl~e sallle ~ialTIeTer from top to bottom.
}:ilull-es '3 and ]0 are eross-seetiol-~ vie~s ill~ls~r~tin~ t]lC
Illinterrl.l] feiltures of tl~c ba~ eouplin~ 50 of li~ule 8 in elosecl
'lal~d open posi1ion~ resl)eeti~c]y with the valve assembly 60. The
¦ha~ eouplin~ 50 lliel~ in a pl-eferlccl enll)oclime]lt is molclcd from
plilstie ful~etions as tl)e l-ody of tlle valve asselllbly.
11
11
~ I . .. . . . . _. . .
1~4~ 8
1 . , ',
11 ,
A s~rin~-loaded poppet (0 is disl~ose~ Yithin tl~e valve bod~
~n~ is normall) hiased to a closcd ~OsitiOIl ~]~crcin frusto-conical
valve mclllhcr 62 is sealingl~ en a~ed in t~c o~enin~ G3 under the
laction of integrall~ molded s~ring 66 ~hicll tcrminates in a rin~-
5 1l s~a~ed base 70. Tle hase 70 of spring 66 is mounted in a
~roove in the inside ~all of bag coupling 50. Thc valve asscrnbly
j~urther inclu~es an inner poppet stem 64 Yhich is integrally molded
.ith elements 62 66 and 70. An outer ~tcm 68 is integr~ mol-
l~ed Witl~ the bag coupling 50 and is sul)porte~ centrally thereof
llby mcans of radial spokes 68~ (Figurc 9A) in the provision of
fluid ~assa~es 67 ahout the peripllery thereof.
As illustrated in Figure 9 the s~rin~-lo~lel po~et 60 is
llnormall~ seated in opening 63 to preclu~e tl~e flo~ of fluid throu~li
jlthe ~alve body Ot b~g coupling 50. On tlle other h~n~ Figure 10
lillustratcs tlle sprin~-loaded lolpct 60 in its ac~u~tc~ con~itio
!in res~onsc to tne inscrtion o~ a matin~ cou~in~ 72 OlltO tl~e
!Itoy of t}~e ba~ cou~ling 50. ~l~tin~ cou~lin~ 72 may he a conven-
!1 tional 4uic~-disconnect couplin~ as is illustr~te~l i31 the Post-mi~
¦! ~)evera~e industry for coul~ling tlle lcll k~lo~n FlGAL * s)~ru}
l¦cont.1iners to the dispensin~ maclliner)~ c top o cou~lin~ 72
l¦includcs a serrate~ llose conncctioll 76 an~ tl-c bottom inclu~cs a
¦Idown~Yardly extendin~ s~irt 74 whicll fits over tl~e side lalls of
¦b~g cou~ling 50. Coup]in~ 72 may l)e scrc-~ed onto ~ag coupli
~ mcans of thrc~ds 50A. As i]]ustr.ltc~ in ~i~lJiC ~ cn
lln.~ti1)~ coul)]in~ 72 is scre~c~ into rosition it Ic~ csscs tl)c in-
jIcr ~alvc l)ol-l)et stcn ~ o~c r~ st~-
~conica] vllvc clcment G~ ollt of scllin~ cn~clllcnt ;ith l)olc ~13
The outer stem 68 presses up into coupling 72
11 ' -11-
* Trademark
I
i _ . I
~1708
against valve member 72A to open the same. Thus all valves are
open in the respective couplings, and fluid is free to flow from
the bottom of bag coupling 50 through its interior an~ that of
coupling 72 and out through the hose conneCtioll 76 to the dis- ¦
pensing apparatus.
The pair of stems 64 and 68 offer a uniquc advantage in
that the center stcm 64 of the spring-loaded poppet when depressed
by the mating coupling 72, opens the valve in the bag couplin~
while the outer stem 68 serves to open the valve elemellt 72A withi
the mating coupling. Accordingly, the spring ~6 of the spril-g-
loaded poppet does not have to be strong enough to open the
poppet 72A of the mating coupling 72 since the outer stem 68
which IS fixedly mounted with respect to bag coupling 50, performs
this operation. Since the fixed outer stem 68 is capable of op-
erating very strong mating coupling sprillgs, such as would be
desirable in a coupling 72, it is possible to us~ a variety of
desiglls of mating couplings 72 witll thc bag coupling 5() of the
presellt invention. T}lis o~fers thc additional advantage that the
strong splings in the mating coupling allol~ tlle ~rovision of a ver~
strong seal against the high vacculll created h) the dispellsing
systcm. ~f the outer stem ~)8 ~ere not l~rovide(l tllell tllc pol)pet
sprillg 66 would llave to be strong enough to open the mating
coupling, or the pol)pet spring assembly, after opcning would
llave to bottom-out on a fixed restraint, so that the poppet stem
could thell open the po~pct of the mating coupling. Jllis, of
coursc ~ould be undesirable becausc an addition~ art ~iould
bc rcqu rcd, addillg tc the co-l~le~:ity of tl~c l.,g co~lp~ g aSsCIIl-
~1417~8
In a preferred embodiment, the entire bag coupling 50,
and spring-loaded poppet 60, are molded from relatively
inexpensive plastic material and thus, would be disposable if
so desired.
As illustrated in the embodiments of Figures 9 and 10, the
biasing spring 66 of the poppet 60 has a pair of spiral legs
which terminate in a ring-shaped base 70~ Thus, the spring 66
is similar in shape to a coil spring, which permits the free and
unobstructed flow of fluid therethrough.
An alternative embodiment of the spring is illustrated in
Figure 11 (shown on the same page as Figure 7). As illustrated
in Figure 11, the spring 80B is merely an extension of the
frusto-conical sealing member 80, and includes a plurality of
folds, resulting in a substantially cylindrical bellows
configuration. An inner poppet stem 80A, is also provided
and functions in a similar manner to the poppet stem 64 of the
embodiment of Figures 9 and 10. The bottom of the cylindrical
spring element 80B of Figure 11 terminates in an annular flange
80C which is mounted in the inside walls of bag coupling 50
adjacent the bottom thereof in a suitable groove. Flange 80C
includes a plurality of fluid passages 82 disposed about its
circumference to permit the free flow of liquid. The valve
assembly of Figure 11 functions in substantially the same
manner as the valve assembly in the embodiments of Figures 9
and 10.
Referring to Figure 12 (shown on the same page as
Figure 8), there is illustrated a bag coupling 50 including
the spring poppet embodiment of Figures 9 and 10. The bag
coupling 50 of Figure 12 has a slightly different external
configuration to facilitate the use of a different form of
mating coupling, namely, one that snaps onto the top of bag
coupling 50, rather than screwing onto the coupling. The
-13-
1~17V8
top of the bag coupling 50 of Figure 12 has a reduced diameter,
which extends down to an enlarged shoulder portion 92, and a
plurality of outwardly extending pins 94. Thus, when a mating
coupling is connected to the reduced end of bag coupling 50, it
sealingly engages with the top thereof with an "O"ring seal 90,
and connects to the outwardly extending pins 94 in the fully
coupled position. The coupling 50 of the embodiment of Figure
4 is further provided with an enlarged flange 96 which permits
the coupling to be supported by an operator's hand for insertion
0 into a bag fitment or while being attached to a mating coupling.
Referring to Figure 13 (shown on the same page as Figure
8), there is illustrated a bag coupling 50 including a spring-
loaded poppet 60 of the type illustrated in Figures 9 and 10,
with a dip tube 10 supported in the bottom of bag coupling 50
or valve body, by means of a dip tube retainer 98. Dip tube
retainer 98 is a one-way slidable washer, as previously
described in the embodiment of Figure 6. However, in the
Figure 13 embodiment the dip tube retainer washer supports dip
tube 10 in the bottom of the valve body, ~bag coupling 50)
rather than in the bag fitment. There are distinct advantages
to supporting the dip tube in the valve body or valve coupling
50 rather than in the bag fitment. For example, the valve~dip
tube assembly of Figure 13 can be inserted into the bag fitment,
and collapsible bag 16, without contaminating the dip tube 10 or
parts of the bag coupling 50, which contact the product by means
of the flange 96. In addition, the valve/dip tube assembly of
Figure 13 can be used with standard bags, spouts or fitments
without the need for a spider type retainer, such as 56 of
Figure 7. Thus, filling of the bag through the spout or fitment
-14-
11417U8
.
.,. ' l
is not in tlle least impaired. A further advalltage is that the
valve/dip tube assembly of Figure 13 can be shipped from the :
supplier to the bag fillin~ location as one assemhly and no
.secondary assenlbl.y steps need take place at the bag fillin~
facility.
The invention being thus described it will be ob~ious that
the salne may be varied in many ways. Suc~ variations are not to ;
be regarded as a dcparture from the splrit and scope of the inven-
tion and al.l sucl~ modifications as would be obvious to one skil-
led in the art are intended to be included within the scope of
the Iollowing claims.
'
